Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting

NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, April 25, 2024 6:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST. AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA NCIP Aguajito Oaks Adam Purdy, Alt.** Representatives Alta Mesa Rick Heuer, Rep. & Alternates Casanova Oak Knoll Richard Ruccello, Rep.* Present: Del Monte Beach Jayme Fields, Rep. Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Scott Hanson, Rep. Downtown Curt Tipton, Rep.*, Bella Lofaso, Alt. Fishermen’s Flats Tom Rowley, Rep. Glenwood Lee Whitney, Rep., Amanda Preece, Alt.* Monterey Vista Hans Jannasch, Rep. New Monterey Chinyere Ogbonna, Rep.*, Natalia Tjandra, Alt.* Oak Grove Luz Adam, Rep.*, Pat Erlinger, Alt.* Old Town Sue Ricketson, Alt. Skyline Dennis Duke, Rep. Villa Del Monte Duane Peterson, Rep. * attended remotely via teleconference **attended remotely via teleconference but did not notice staff, therefore considered a member of the public. NCIP Casanova Oak Knoll Scott Dent, Alt. Representatives Deer Flats Dave Overton, Rep. & Alternates Del Monte Beach Jeff White, Alt. Absent: Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Joseph Hill, Alt. Fishermen’s Flats Marilyn Maxner, Alt. Skyline John Mera, Alt. Villa Del Monte Tammy Jennings, Alt City Staff Reginald Paulding, NCIP Staff Coordinator Present: Thomas Harty, Senior Engineer Parker Lovett, Administrative Assistant Louie Marcuzzo, Park Operations Manager This meeting was held with a combination of in-person and teleconference attendance, pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act, Calif. Government Code section 54953(e)(1)(C) and the City Council's resolution authorizing teleconferencing. CALL TO ORDER Action: NCIP Chair Heuer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Staff Coordinator Paulding explained how to participate in the meeting virtually via Zoom. ROLL CALL Action: Called roll with 14 neighborhoods represented and 1 neighborhood absent (Deer Flats). APPROVAL OF MINUTES  Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes 1. April 11, 2024 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Approved. Committee Member Duke introduced a motion to approve the April 11, 2024 minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Rowley. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: 12 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Heuer, Ruccello, Fields, Hanson, Rowley, Whitney, Jannasch, Ogbonna, Adam, Ricketson, Duke, Peterson NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Overton ABSTAIN: 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Purdy, Tipton RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comment was received by Jean Rasch for underground utilities and fuel reduction. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. NCIP Committee Project Nomination Potential Conflicts (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under general Rule Article 5, Section 15061) NCIP Staff Coordinator Paulding presented a report on potential conflicts on the NCIP project nominations for fiscal year 2024/25. Staff identified potential conflicts for NCIP Committee members on 19 nominated projects in the Alta Mesa, Casanova Oak Knoll, Del Monte Beach, Del Monte Grove–Laguna Grande, Downtown, Fishermen’s Flats, Monterey Vista, New Monterey, and Villa Del Monte neighborhoods. Committee Chair Heuer questioned conflicts for multi- neighborhood status recommending review by City Attorney’s Office, which already has been done by Staff and is awaiting response. Committee Members Rowley and Peterson also recommended City Attorney’s review. Committee Chair Heuer clarified the impacts of the conflicts for voting night. Committee Member Tipton commented on the differences between 500 feet and 1,000 feet. Committee Member Jannasch commented to withdraw MV-05 due to separate concerns, but which was conflict within 500 feet for Committee Member Jannasch. Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM 2 Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes 3. NCIP Committee 2nd Review of Projects: First Half of Neighborhoods (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under general Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Staff Coordinator Paulding reviewed proposed projects for Aguajito Oaks – Monterey Vista receiving public and committee comments after reviewing each neighborhood. Aguajito Oaks Neighborhood Public and Committee Comments: No project nominations submitted for neighborhood. Alta Mesa Neighborhood Public and Committee Comments: Public comment was received by Valerie Morrow in favor of AM-01 for increasing safety. Committee Chair Heuer commented on details of the proposed sidewalk. Committee Member Rowley commented on the neighborhood walls located on both sides of Alta Mesa Rd, but Committee Chair Heuer responded to clarify only one side will be impacted by the sidewalk. Committee Vice Chair Fields questioned if the sidewalk nomination is consistent with the neighbored, which Committee Chair Heuer responded that there are no sidewalks in neighborhood, so the neighborhood association is opposed to the project nomination. Committee Member Peterson commented on the state of the curbs, which Committee Chair Heuer responded as rolled curbs. Casanova Oak Knoll Public and Committee Comments: Public comment was received by Robert Yoha in favor of COK-01, COK-02, COK-03, and COK-06 for completing sidewalks in neighborhood, in favor of COK-04 to connect neighborhood to rest of City, and in favor of COK05 to replace the radar signs, without need to replace poles. Public comment was received by Tanja Roos in favor of COK-04 as a key project for connecting neighborhood to surrounding bike lanes. Public comment was received by Janie Sailveria in favor of COK-05 as a helpful measure of traffic. Committee Member Ruccello commented on COK-01, COK-02, COK-03, and COK-06 on how the projects are all sidewalk in-fills and are supported by the neighborhood. He asked for clarification on the cost estimate for COK-03, and Staff Coordinator Paulding clarified that the design has not been done, so a general estimate is provided. Committee Member Ruccello commented on COK-04 about receiving endorsement from Regional Parks and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) will be taking over the future grant applications for the N. Fremont Gap project, and commented on COK-05 needing just to replace the signs themselves. Committee Member Ogbonna asked about project nomination ratings and Committee Chair Heuer confirmed that the ratings are not needed for this meeting; however, would be important for Voting Night. Deer Flats Public and Committee Comments: No public comment or committee comments were received for Deer Flats project nominations. Del Monte Beach Public and Committee Comments: No public comments. Committee Vice Chair Fields provided the neighborhood priority list for each project. DMB-04 is #1 priority, DMB-06 is #2, DMB-01 is #3, DMB-03 is #4, DMB-05 is #5, DMB-02 is #6, and DMB-07 was not considered for ranking. Committee Member Ruccello asked about the status of the restroom study, so NCIP Staff Coordinator Paulding clarified that the City decided not to move forward with the Restroom study, but it will need City Council to de-appropriate funds. Committee Member Jannasch commented on DM-07 for the $1 million estimated cost. Committee Member Ogbonna commented on DMB-07 if priorities change without a restroom study, and Committee Vice Chair Fields confirmed that DMB-07 has a been a lower priority in past years. Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Public and Committee Comments: Public comments were received from Jean Rasch, Kate Daniels, and Esther Malkin to withdraw DMG-02, but expressed appreciation for NCIP Committee for their time and consideration of project. Public comment was received by Laurie Maduca for DMG-02 to consider land purchasing strategies in the future. Public comment was received by Tanja Roos in favor of DMG-03 for quality Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM 3 Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes of life improvements with installation of exercise equipment. Public comment was received by Michele Cry in favor of DMG-01 as the nominator of project to move forward before underground utilities project. Committee Member Hanson commented on DMG-01 has been discussed with the North Fremont Business District and will be with more neighborhoods in the future, and commented on DMG-03 as the #1 priority for neighborhood. Committee Member Ruccello commented on DMG-01 in favor of the project, as the timeline for underground design and construction would come in the future. Downtown Public and Committee Comments: Public comment was received from Ellen McEwen, Michael Groves, Sabrina Webster, Spencer Reece in favor of in favor of DT-04 and DOT-05. Public comment was received by Eugene Loh in favor of DT-11 for educational signs with respect to rising sea levels. Public comment was received by Christopher Barlow in favor of DT-20 to restore Hartnell Gulch with native vegetation. Public comment was received by Richard Snelling in favor of DT-12 as a less costly and more timely project option for pickleball courts. Public comment was received by Janie Silveria in favor of DT- 07 and DT-08 for energy efficiency and remodeling efforts to the Monterey Public Library. Public comment was received by Tammy Jennings in favor of DT-14 to provide wayfinding signage and protective measures for the handicap beach mats. Committee Vice Chair Fields commented on DT-04 and DT-05 to ensure the cost for maintenance of new turf is considered along with the initial cost for installation and to recommend grants from PG&E to support energy efficiency projects. Committee Member Tipton commented on DT-07 and DT-08 receiving public comment and requested Administrative Assistant Lovett to circulate comments to NCIP Committee Members. Committee Members Rowley, Purdy, Fields, Heuer, Peterson, and Whitney commented on DT-02 needing the statue of Dennis the Menace to return to locations with security cameras and to consider other means to more properly secure statue. Committee Member Ruccello commented in favor of DT-06, DT-14, DT-16, and DT-18. Fishermen’s Flats Public and Committee Comments: No public comments. Committee Member Rowley commented in favor of FF-01 and FF-02. Committee Member Purdy commented on FF-01 asking for clarification on the maintenance based on the photos in presentation, and Committee Members Rowley and Duke identified the need for fuel reduction measures to reduce the fire hazard. Glenwood Public and Committee Comments: No public comments. Committee Member Whitney commented in favor of GW-01 for fuel reduction measures. Committee Member Ogbonna commented on how GW-01 differed from MN-05, for which Staff Coordinator Paulding clarified GW-01 would have separate funding just for the site. Monterey Vista Public and Committee Comments: Public comment was received from Marianne Hartfelt in favor of MV-02 needing to protect pedestrians. Committee Member Jannasch commented on looking for guidance from City Attorney’s Office on MV-01. Jannasch commented on MV-02 and MV-06 have significant support from neighborhood. Jannasch commented on MV-03 may move to a study and MV-08 already has an active design portion. Jannasch recognized the he has a potential conflict with MV-04 so he would not comment. Committee Member Fields commented on MV-01 and MV-02 to consider the precedence of NCIP’s involvement with similar projects in past and commented on MV-06 of checking whether this project is for traffic calming, which Committee Members Jannasch, and Duke commented on the need for widening and the cost estimates for doing so. Committee Member Whitney commented on MV-07 asking if the project can be completed by City Sign staff. 4. Wyndemere Canyon Projects Discussion ((Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under general Rule Article 5, Section 15061) NCIP Staff Coordinator Paulding presented on the Wyndemere Canyon projects and discussed relevant concerns. Committee Member Duke commented that the neighborhood is still concerned Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM 4 Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes about the need for the Lower Canyon Drainage project and that the City Council de-appropriated project funds without consulting with the NCIP Committee for the priorities of projects with significant effort allotted already. Committee Chair Heuer and Vice Chair Fields both commented questioning the current state of the Wyndemere projects. 5. NCIP INFORMATIONAL REPORTS NCIP Spokesperson Reports NCIP Staff Coordinator Paulding presented a report on statuses of current NCIP projects. The report includes 2 projects completed since last meeting and the details of current NCIP projects. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee Members Peterson, Duke, Ruccello, and Heuer commented on the need to prioritize fuel reduction measures throughout the City. Committee Member Jannasch recognized the various land purchase opportunities. Committee Member Whitney recognized the importance of Undergrounding Utilities. Vice Chair Fields recommended a study session with City Council and Mayor to invite a proper discussion for open communication and improving the relationship with City Council. Committee Members Ruccello, Tipton, Ogbonna, and Heuer commented on the need for the NCIP charter to be respected by City Council and City Staff when cancelling NCIP projects. Committee Chair Heuer requested confirmation from NCIP Committee Members in support for him to reach-out to City Attorney’s Office regarding guidance on process for cancelling NCIP projects. NEXT MEETING May 9, 2024 ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Heuer Adjourned at 9:00 PM Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Parker Lovett Reginald Paulding Recording Secretary NCIP Staff Coordinator Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 4/25/2024 6:00:00 PM 5